Clockless parking meter



Sept. 15, 1959 .1. w. Ml-:NHALL 2,904,154

cLocxLEss PARKING METER med Aug. 17, 1953 4 sheets-sheet 1 i L im K Illll..

IN V EN TOR.

Sept 15, 1959 J. w. MENHALL cLocKLEss PARKING METER Filed Aug. 17,

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

J. W. MENHALL CLOCKLESS PARKING METER Sept. 15, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet C5 Filed Aug. 17, 1953 VIL . INVENTOR.

Sept. l5, 1959 J, W M'ENHALL 2,904,154

CLocKLEsS PARKING METER Filed Aug. 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O CLOCKLESS PARKING METER James W. Menhall, Benton, Ill.

Application August 17, 1953, Serial No. 374,574 4 Claims. (C1. 2194-74) This invention relates to parking meters and primarily to meters which are manually re-settable at the end of a parking period, to indicate the expiration of such period.

In general presently used parking meters include two types, both of which avail of clock works. The rst type includes an arrangement for automatically beginning the operation of the mechanism and the second type requires manual manipulation of a lever or the like to set the clock works into operation, both of the devices being coin controlled for such operation.

In the above type, a signal is automatically brought into view at the end of a period determined by pre-setting of the clock Works and other mechanisms associated therewith.

The present invention provides a vastly more simple parking meter, which is manually controlled, lat both the beginning and end of the period, and thus enables any period to be provided without'changing the mechanism in Iany way.

Further the meter hereof is thus in reality a third type which is particularly suitable for use in vehicle parking lots or in areas which have large numbers of parking meters within relatively short distances.

With the foregoing in mind `it is ya principal object of this'invention to provide a parking meter which is eX- tremely simple in construction, operation, and maintenance, involving few parts, but effectively indicating and controlling parking periods.

It is a further object to provide a parking meter which includes a signal normally visible to show violation, is made substantially invisible upon insertion of a coin and manipulation of a lever by hand, the end of the period being indicated by manual operation of the signal so as Ito again effect Visibility thereof. y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a parking meter in which the meter is manually settable at the beginning of the parking period, manually operated to indicate termination of the period, and common operating instrumentalities are provided to be acted upon by such manipulation.

`Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of the parts, wherein the common operating instrumentalities include a reciprocable memberadapted to be actuated by coin controlled means for causing the signal to be moved out of visible position, and manual means for operating said member -to move the signal into signaling position at any time.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from the specification appended hereto and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of the meter, part of the same ICC ties and the manual means for causing the signal to indicate the termination of the parking period.

Figure 4 is a rear view of the parking meter, illustrating the parts thereof in diiferent positions, certain of the parts being omitted.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figures l and 3, the parking meter of this invention is shown as comprising a base structure generally indicated at 1, within which is located the coin receiving box 2. While the base 1 is not shown as being formed so as to mount upon the usual stanchion, it will be understood that such is the intention in accordance with usual practice.

Above the base member '1 and suitably connected there-` with is the casing 3, having at its upper portion the transparent section 4 for purposes which will be set forth hereinafter.

Within the casing '3 and suitably fastened thereto as by means of the screws 5, is the body or mounting member generally denoted I6. The member l6 as will be seen from Figure 3 includes a substantially centrally located vertical plate-like member 7, terminating at the bottom in the anges 8 in which the screws 5 are seated and whereby the connection to the base I1 is effected.

Located about centrally of the body 6, is the mechanism next to be described, which includes the operating partsfor manipulation and actuation of the signal.

The above parts include an outwardly extending portion of the body 6, denoted 9, the same being provided near-the upper edge thereof-with a suitable opening and upon which a handle 10 is pivotally mounted at 1.1. The

. handle 10 is hollow at its upper portion and includes therewithin a coin pusher or cam 12x, which cam '12 is fastened at the pivot 1v1 and in addition connected to the handle by means of a pin l13 so as to be movable with the handle las will be subsequently set forth.

Mounted over the extension 9,' and extending from left to right over the central portion of the body 6, is a plate `14, suitably fastened to the body 6 by means of the screws 15, and providing a space between the body 6 and the plate 14 in Ithe form of a recess. Within the recess `so formed, and indicated at 16 in Figure 3, is a slide member 17 which includes -a substantially rectangularportion and an extension at the left end thereof in the form of a linger denoted I18, including cam means =1=9 thereon. Y

The slide or actuator 17, further includes a stud 20 .l thereon, extending outwardly from the slide as shown being shown in section and certain portions being broken Figure 3 is an end view of the meter showing the re- 1' lationship between the common operating instrumentaliin Figure 3, which stud 20 is engaged with the springs denoted 21 and 22. The spring Z1 is engaged at its left end as shown in the drawing with a bolt 23 suitably mounted in the body 6, and the spring 22 engages a similar bolt 24 likewise carried by the body. The springs 21 vand 22y will therefore normally compel movement of the slide 17 toward the left as viewed in Figure 1. Likewise connected vto the slide 17 and extending downwardly therefrom is the coin supporting arm 25, the same being equipped at its lower end with an inwardly turned part 26 as shown in Figure 3, for purposes which will be hereinafter set forth.

The extension 9, in conjunction with the plate 14, forms between the same and extending inwardly toward the center of the body 6, a coin receiving passageway, there being provided a coin receiving opening 27 in the outer end of the plate 14. The coin receiving passageway is n alignment with the slide 17 as will be subsequently explained, and insertion of a coin within the opening 27, may be subsequently accompanied by manipulation of the handle 10 so as to cause the coin to move inwardly within the coin receiving slot, and subsequently downwardly through a passage indicated in dotted lines in Figure l and denoted 28. When the coin has reached the lower portion of the passage 28, as

shown in Figure 4 the same is supported therein in conwith t-he ysupporting -a-rm 25 and a wall of the passageway 28 luntil released during operation of the mechanism. It should be noted that the coin ysupporting tis fastened to y*the slide '17 by -m'e'an's of la rivet 29 so as to beV positively fixed for movement therewith'.

In alignement with the slide or actuator A17 'above 'inentoned, and maintained in position with respect to fthe body 6 by means of the plate 14, is the latch Yinc'lieated at B0, Jbein'g pivotall'y mounted at 31 on the extension 9 of therbody. The latch v30 is adapted to co-act with a notehg32 foi-ined in the upper 'ed-ge ofthe slide 17, and so positioned as 'to maintain the slide `in -the location vin Figure l under certain Iconditions. In addition the J'upper edge of the slide 17fi`s Yforn'red with an upstanding abutment Vmember M33, so as 'to-in eie'ct Ibe a Ixnitiiiuation vvof the 'notch 32. '-It Ywill be understood that in ythey condition of the parts as shown in -Figure l, namely the latch fr/land the slide 17, the latch is rn-aintained in the notch by means of a spring 34,-be'arin'g at one end 35 against the notch, adjacent its middle being mountedso la's to bea'r against a stud A36, -and at its other end engaging ya protuberance or ledgedikeV formation 37, theftenson inthe `spring 34 causing maintenance of the latch-30 in the notch 32.

-At the -fright 'hand end and the upper corner ofthe slide 17, the same is Vprovided with an additional cam portion `38,wh'ich is intended .to engage anoperating arm 39, the said yoperating arm 39 being in 'alignment with the slide l17 and being pivoted at one end at 40. The operating arm 39 is fur'the'rprovided with a protuberance .-41 for engagement with the cam portion `38 of the slide 17, when the slide 17 moves .from left to right, to thereby cause the arm 39 to swing -in a clockwise direction; TIn the movement 'of the arm 39, the same being equipped at'its `outer end with an ostanding 'part l42, Athesaid'arm" will eng-age with a'lever- 43, the said lever 43 being pivotally mounted on the plate 14 at 44. At the outer end ofthe lever 43, `the same is intended to engage with a signal lifting member 45,said member l45 being formed of Vwire or'similar Vmaterial and adapted to pivot around Vbolt 46. The member 45 is provided with .an extension 47 engaging the outer end of thepar-t 43, andat its extremity 48, surrounds a--post i' 49'11pon which is mounted a vsignal 50, so ythatthedportion 48'abuts the lower portion ofthe signal V5t).

The signal 50 may preferably l-be in vthe -forfm of 'a ball o'r thelike,'and suitably colored so as tobe readily visible Ithrough the transparent section 4 of the leasing u3 during operation of 4the device in the manner to behereinafter set forth.

Turningnowy to a Vconsideration of-Figure 2, there is shown -a-Ipart of the manually manipulable portion of the device, which'is availed'of to reset the device to show a violation as existing. This includes a shaft member'asv shown inFig-ure -3 and denoted 51, which extends through -thebody 46, towand thefront thereof as vshown inFigure 2,l the forward vend of the shaftg51 being p'rovided-with afrectangula'r shaped operating aim 52, said armSZ'beingiixedly secured tothe shaft'Sl. The 'shaft 51 as shown is threaded and provided with suitable lock nuts l53 thereon so as to assist in maintaining the shaft in .alignment for operation .as will be understoodV hereinafter.

At the outerend 'ef the shaft 51, toward the right as viewed in Figure 3there is shown an extensonimember havingforrned on its extremity a lsquare shank 55. The shank 55 islocated so as to be opposite a suitable opening 56 in the casing3, for manipulation. A 4suitable 4key 57l is provided having a portion SSadapted to. `bereceived on thefshank 155,. vfor voperationpf .the device.

*.With ,.t-hezlforegoing .general description. of the vparts involved in this parking. meter invention, and their. relau l d tionship having been set forth, the operation of Fthe parking meter will now be explained.

Initially it will be assumed that the parts are in lthe condition as shown in Figure l, the handle 10 being normally substantially Vertical alongside the casing and base member 1, and thereafter the handle member is caused to pivot outwardly in a clockwise direction around the pivot 11 so as to permit .the coin to be inserted within the opening 27. Subsequently counter-clockwise rotation of the handle 10 Will cause 'the coin to be engaged by the cam member 12, and to move toward the right within the mechanism, subsequently coming into engagement with the 'extension 418 upon which the cam portion 19 of the slide 17 is formed. Further movement of the handle, the coin being shown in dotted lines at A, will cause movement of the slide 17 towand the right. When the coin reaches the point where it is adapted to drop downwardly into the passageway 28, it will be apparent that the lu'g or abutment member 33 will have raised the Alatch -30 out of engagement with the notch 32. As the coin slips downwardly into the interior of the passageway 28, 'the springs 22 and 21 will come yinto action, and =by reason 'of their having been previously expanded during the movement to the rightward of the slide 17, will 'cause a sudden reverse movement of the said slide toward the left. The springs are so arranged as to cause this movement to Ttak'e place rapidly enough prior to the time within which the latch 30 could again move downwardly under the compulsion of the spring 34, so thatvthe notch 32 escapes such engagement, and moves toward theleft into the position of the parts as shown in Figure 4.

such vtime as the slide 17 has moved into the positionas 'shown in v`Figure l4, it being understood that the 'coin is now Supported by the larm 25 as shown in said lfigure within the passageway 2'8, the protuberance 41 on the operating arm 39 will have moved downwardly suiiiciently, to permit 'the lever `43 to likewise move in a Vcounter-clockwise direction, a similar downward move'- ment of the end 4-8.of the lift arm 45 taking place. It will be apparent thatnth'e signal 50 will thereby move downwardly into position so as to be substantially 'completely obscured within the. casing 3, land thus the meter is set for authorized operation.

Assuming that the meter ofthe invention herein, has been installed in a parking lot for example, and it is desired t'ope'rmit a patron to avail of the parking space for alpe'riod 'of four hours for example, at the end of that time, thev attendant will insert the key 57 into the opening 56, 4'and engage the shank V55 and thereby be able to rotate' the armSZ intov the position as shown in Figure 2. Such movement of the arm 52 will engage the post 20, and compel the slide 17 to be moved to the position as shown in Figure l. The movement of the slide by manipulation of the vkey 57, will causethe protuberance 41'on the arm-39, to move inra clockwise direction, and likewise the lever '43 to thereby compel the lift arm 45 to again raise thegsignal 50 into visible position within the transparent section-tof the casing 3. This action vwill 'result in a visible vsignal being evident to theperson rwho hasparked his car in the particular place, and indicate that another coin must be deposited to acquire additional time in that particular location.

It will* also be understood that parking meters of the above description may be installed upon the streets preferably in. locations where it is feasible to grant relatively long periods of parking time, in 'orde'r to enable an attendant or suitable authorizedV person to operate the signal b'ymanual means to raise ythe same into view and show a violation ofthe parking time.

It will be apparent from` the foregoing description, that an. initial .operation of a coin `cor'ltrolled portion of the deviceis necessary to inaugurate a .parking period, by causing the signal to become relatively invisible, and that thereaftel manual manipulation is required on the part of an authorized person to raise the signal into a violation position so-called.

It will also be understood that during subsequent operations of the slide 17, the coins previously supported in the position as shown in Figure 4, will be permitted to rop downwardly as indicated in dotted lines at B in Figure 1, into a suitable coin receptacle 2 within the base 1 of the meter.

It is to be understood that my meter mechanism may be employed with or without the use of the guide post 49 for the signal 50. In other words, the actuating member 45 will operate the signal 50 properly even though the post 49 is dispensed with. l'

I claim:

1. In a clockless parking meter, in combination, a casing, a signal on the casing shiftable to signalling and non-signalling positions, mechanism in the casing for actuating the signal including an actuating slide provided with a cam, members in the casing operable by said cam to elect said shifting of the signal, a locking member coacting with the slide to hold same in a position wherein the slide maintains the signal in signalling position, a manually operable coin `controlled member cooperable with a coin impinged between same and said slide for moving the slide, spring means connected to the slide for actuating same to release it from the said locking means for causing the signal to assume non-signalling position when the coin controlled manual member is actuated, and separate selectively operable manual means in the casing cooperable with the slide to restore same to its position in which it is locked by the locking member.

2. In a parking meter of the class described, in combination, a casing, a signal movable thereon to signalling and non-signalling positions, mechanism in the casing for actuating said signal, including an actuator operable to move the signal to said positions, said signal actuating mechanism also comprising a locking member to hold the actuator in a position maintaining the signal in its signalling position, coin controlled manual means on the casing cooperatig with the actuator to move the signal to non-signalling position and releasable upon operation of the coin controlled manual means When coacting with a coin in the meter to enable the signal to shift to nonsignalling position, and other manual means cooperable with the actuator to shift the signal into signalling position, said other manual means comprising a key insertable in the meter casing, and a rocker arm in the casing shiftable by the key to move the actuator to restore the signal to signalling position.

3. In a parking meter of the class described, in combination, a casing, a signal movable thereon to signalling and non-signalling positions, a mechanism in the casing for actuating said signal, including an actuator operable to move the signal to said positions, coin controlled manual means on the casing cooperating with the actuator to move signal to non-signalling position, said actuator is a slide mounted in the casing to reciprocate and movable by a coin engaged by the coin controlled manual means, and the other manual means includes an arm movable in the casing and coacting to move said slide, and a key insertable in the casing and connectible with said arm for moving the same.

4. In `a parking meter of the class described, in combination, a casing, a signal movable thereon to signalling and non-signalling positions, mechanism in the casing for actuating said signal, including an actuator operable to move the signal to said positions, said signal actuating mechanism also comprising a locking member to hold the actuator in a position maintaining the signal in its signalling position, coin controlled manual means on the casing cooperating with the actuator to move the signal to nonsignalling position and releasable upon operation of the coin `controlled manual means when coacting with a coin in the meter to enable the signal to shift to nonsignalling position, said `actuator being provided with a coin supporting member to hold a coin previously controlling the operation of the rst manual means for movement of the actuator by such means, subsequent movement of the actuator releasing such coin from said supporting member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,696,038 James Dec. 18, 1928 2,015,607 Shinn Sept. 24, 1935 2,038,963 Seeburg Apr. 28, 1936 2,147,520 Bullock Feb. 14, 1939 2,228,396 Martin Ian. 14, 1941 2,252,253 Ferguson Aug. 12, 1941 2,369,717 Compton Feb. 20, 1945 2,431,229 Compton Nov. 18, 1947 2,712,868 Allen July 12, 1955 

